Aircraft carrier Viraat on final voyage to Gujarat, selling as scrap

Indian Navy’s decommissioned aircraft carrier Viraat set sail for the first time from Mumbai to Gujarat’s Alang where it will be dismantled and sold as scrap.

The aircraft carrier served the Indian Navy for 30 years after it was brought to India in 1987 from UK.

It was an emotional moment for Navy veterans to watch INS Viraat leave the Mumbai Harbour abroad which they spent the best years of their career.

“#Mumbai bids adieu to #Viraat as she leaves harbour one final time on her way to Alang, Gujarat. The flagship of @indiannavy served with distinction for three decades after her service in @RoyalNavy as #HMSHermes for over two decades.” tweeted PRO Defence Mumbai.

As Viraat began its final journey from the Navy dockyard, a Navy helicopter circling overhead provided a majestic backdrop to the vessel’s last voyage.

The aircraft carrier was decommissioned in March 2017. It had served in the UK’s Royal Navy as HMS Hermes and was named INS Viraat after being inducted in the Indian Navy in 1987.

There were attempts to convert ‘Viraat’ into a museum or a restaurant, but none of the plans fructified.

Alang-based Shree Ram group bought it for Rs 38.54 crore at an auction. Viraat will be dismantled at the Alang ship breaking yard, said company chairman Mukesh Patel.

Alang, a beach town, house the world’s biggest ship breaking yard.

Many social media users lamented the failure of successive governments to preserve Viraat and another aircraft carrier Vikrant as maritime museums to depict India’s rich naval heritage, instead of allowing them to be broken down and sold as scrap.